A story

Once upon a time....God gave me cousins. I didn't want them at first, but the moment I met Bridgette, I changed my mind. I was a bit jealous sharing the attention with her, for 10 years our family had been "my show" but she was lovable and I adjusted. Then God gave us her sister, Linnea and I loved them so. I wanted to take them and put them in my pocket and keep them little and with me forever.

Bridgette, Linnea and I 1995

But God had other plans. He let us all grow older. I did not stay a teenager and they became them. But I still loved them and wanted to keep them just like that.

Me, Linnea and Bridgette 2009

God still went on with his plan and turned these young teenage girls into beautiful young women. Despite my arguments to the contrary. He did a good job with it though, and I love them still.

Bridgette, Me, Linnea 3/20/11

All the while this was happening, at my own home, I still lived as an only child. God knew I liked it this way. So he sent this pesky boy to work on the farm. From the time I was 15 this lil' kid hung around and I grew to love him too. He was a few years younger so I did my best to teach him how to be bossed around by a girl, how not to treat girls and how to swear. He was a nerdy lil' boy who grew into a nice young man. I think God sent him to help me adjust to sharing my mom. Because soon God sent me another brother, this time the real thing. The serrogate brother of mine still remained and I'm glad because I love my brother by choice as much as I love my brother of blood.

Matt, Carmryn and I 2003

Well that young man kept growing and growing and growing, God is funny that way. I got married. All of my people were there. My Bridgette she was 16. My Matt was not. Bridgette adored Matt but he was too old for her. So she decided to date a mini Matt. That was short lived and by the time Bridgette turned 18 she had convinced Matt of what she already knew. And so be it. Noone stops Bridge from getting what she wants.

Matt, Bridge and My lil' guy (their godson) 2009

This is the story of my babies. Who grew up too fast.

This is the story of why my brother is marrying my cousin and its perfectly legal and not a Jerry Springer story.

This is a story where my heart weeps with joy of things to come and sorrow for time that has gone too fast.

This is the story of a place which has been a second home to me for the past 25 years will soon mean so much more to me when on my 6 year anniversary my boy will marry my girl.

This is the story of Matthew Richard and Bridgette Christine.

This is a love story written by God for us to share.

<3>

never enough time....

We usually spend a good chunk of our summer in Crosslake. I've been spending about 1/3 of my summers there for the past 24 years. Its my home.
Summer is not right until I spend a day on Vicky's boat (or in recent years Greggs pontoon) enjoying the sun and the lake.

This year, instead of our usual 3-4 weeks up north, we only got one!
Very sad. But we enjoyed it while we could....and are counting down until next year!

Thankful List

For my family







For old friends*.....








and new......









And for BFFs

For people who make a difference

For camping...and crosslake.....

For Beaches....and cruises...and family vacations.....





For cocktails.....





Chipotle

Tim McGraw

Boneless Buffalo Wings

Tickles (the blankies)

Sunshine

Halloween

and much much more




*please note, you know even if your not pictured you mean the world to me....and if your pictures not up here its cause I dont see you enough you phucin ho!!! LOL

The last 10 days

What a vacation! WOW. I got there to find out Kevs grandma had passed away, I did not have a vehicle so that threw a little hitch in our plans. I caught a ride home and left my girl up with her grandma. After a sad two days of mourning we drove back up to spend the weekend. Kev came home and Izze and I stayed for 2 more days! It was lots of fun....

Here are some highlights:

Shishin' by the dam

My family

Cheese!

My girls! Geeg, Nea, Me and LoLo

Me and my Bug

My girl fishin

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My silly girl, much braver then momma

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Bubbles! What a talker!

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Oh and the best highlight....

Sett scense..... A group of beautiful children and thier parents are up at the ranger station making bird feeders. They are filling pine cones full of shortening and bird feed. My darling little girl is workign on hers with her Ma'Ma' (Grandma) when Ma'Ma' accidently drops Izze's feeder onto Izze's head, resulting in bird seed and shortening in her hair and down her face. Izze looks up at Ma'Ma' and exclaims "OH SHIT!". THATS my girl! *sighs and bows head*

Camping

We had a blast camping.

We stayed up late and partied and ate chocolate at all hours of the night. We even played with Grandma's black berry and called daddy nightly and cuddled with him over the phone.

We went on lots of wagon rides and stroller rides and played with our friends.

We played on the beach, drank lots of lake water, and got some sun.

We went out to the island...

We spent some time on the boat....

It was TONS of fun!

Gone Camping...

We are headed out. Izze and I that is. We are going up north to the lake! Yay! We will spend the week with my mom, my brother (from my mom), my sister (from my dad) and my cousins who will be up there too! Its the first time we get to camp in my moms camper! YAY...we have always stayed elsewhere, because thats what mom did. But now she has her own!

Here are some things we really hope to do:
Go boating
Go on walks
Have the BEST ice cream in MN, a DOOSIE at that
Go to the Turtle Races in Nissiwa
Play on the beach
Sit by the fire
Do a little fishing
Read some books
Play in the dirt

Here are some of the inevitable that we aren't looking forward to:
Being stuck inside when it rains with 6 people in the camper
Mosquito Bites
Sun burns
Wood Ticks
Blisters
Tornando warnings (we always seem to have one in June)
100 degree heat with humidity (another frequent of ours)
My car breaking...for the past two years I have had to pay for repairs up there, where they charge the vacationers an arm and a leg!!!!

We will probably check in because after all roughing it does include cell phones, laptops and wireless internet!